Montana officials warn against showing waterfowl at fairs

Responding to a multi-state outbreak of avian influenza that has decimated egg and turkey farms across the Midwest, the Montana Department of Livestock issued an advisory Tuesday recommending owners of ducks and geese keep their birds at home this summer, and avoid showing them at county fairs and summer livestock exhibitions.

Since it was first detected in December 2014, the H5N2 strain of avian influenza has forced the destruction of close to 41 million laying hens and turkeys from Arkansas to California. Researchers believe the disease was introduced to the United States from Canada by wild birds flying south along the North American migratory flyway.

Two separate cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza have been diagnosed in Montana, and both have involved exposure to infected waterfowl

"These waterfowl may appear healthy but if infected, could easily spread the virus to other birds in the barn during a county fair," state veterinarian Marty Zaluski said. "Exhibitions are an increased risk when dealing with contagious diseases because animals are traveling from multiple sources and are concentrated in one area during the event.

"The threat of 'high-path' will likely remain through the show season, and limiting the movement of waterfowl is a proactive step to prevent disease in the domestic poultry population."

The disease already has wiped out 10 percent of the nation's entire egg laying flock — especially in Iowa where more than 26 million birds already have been destroyed. Minnesota, Wisconsin and South Dakota also have been hit hard.

A University of Minnesota analysis released Monday estimates the total cost of high-path bird flu to that state's economy at $310 million — and counting. Completely restocking Midwest turkey and egg-laying flocks could take years.

"Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota have canceled all poultry exhibitions for the season in light of this outbreak," said Tahnee Szymanski, a veterinarian with the Montana Department of Livestock. "This is not just about a few backyard poultry operations. People need to be aware of this."

Thus far the disease has bypassed most of the southeastern United States, where the bulk of the nation's broiler chickens are raised.

In Montana, a single flock of approximately 40 chickens tested positive for high-path at a farm in Judith Basin County last April. The entire flock was destroyed and their bodies buried.

That isolated outbreak came less than a week after a domesticated gyrfalcon in the Flathead Valley also tested positive. The predatory bird had been fed meat from a wild duck harvested in the Flathead County area.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention the H5N2 strain of bird flu poses little risk to humans, but is lethal to birds of many types. The disease's impact has been exacerbated by the high concentration of the poultry industry.

Prior to the 1960s, most egg production came from farm flocks of less than 400 hens. Improved technology and the development of sophisticated mechanical equipment were responsible for a shift from small farm flocks to larger commercial operations.

According to the industry trade group United Egg Producers, in the 1970s the U.S had about 10,000 commercial egg producers. Today there are fewer than 200, with farms on average containing around 1.5 million birds. When the high-path virus is confirmed in one hen house, birds in nearby houses are typically killed in an attempt to halt the spread of the pathogen.

The low incidence of high-path in Montana has persuaded state livestock officials to be measured in their reaction to the disease. So far the Department of Livestock has issued only a recommendation, and the advisory does not extend to chickens or turkeys.

"But if we see something change as we move forward, that may have to be readdressed," Szymanski said. "We realize it's going to be a huge letdown to those kids who have been working on water fowl projects, but hopefully it will be this one season and a minor disruption to everyone involved," she added. "Knowing that water fowl can carry that virus and not show any clinical signs, we want to make sure we're not putting everybody else's birds at risk."